G'day all - Larry, in a way, I agree with you that the Chinese govt wanted to be taken more seriously. Therefore, as Stephen has touched upon tangentially, the ego plays a role. However, I don't know how strong that motivation was. I mean, Yugoslavia has never been a China's domain. Its interest in the Yugoslavia, in my estimation, is that of a refractory mode. By that I mean one can make the quantum leap of judgement from the relationship between Yugoslavia and Kosavo to that of China and Tibet. More, the Kosavo Albanians are predominately muslim, so there is another sore subject for China with respect to her relationship to the islamic minorities [I actually think China missed the golden opportunity to make an overture to the muslim - before the mistaken bombing.]
But do not underestimate the poker playing abilities of President Jiang. He doesn't get to where he is without a few aces up his sleeves [and knives in his pocket <G>]
best, Bosco |
